Sgt. Art Windemuth, NRP public information officer, said Christopher Drott, 52, of Edgewater, was able to grab onto a paddle and a cooler to keep himself afloat after he fell out of the boat at about 7 p.m. Saturday.

NRP issued a release Saturday requesting the public's help in locating the kayaker. The boat was found floating unattended near the mouth of the West River in Anne Arundel County, officials said, adding that a search was conducted using vessels and a helicopter.

The kayak contained a pair of shoes, a fishing pole, an orange life jacket, an anchor and a crab pot, officials said.

Windemuth said a neighbor of Drott's who heard about the search alerted NRP officials that Drott had made it safely to shore.